The Writers Bar is all set to reopen its doors and welcome guests to a space that pays tribute to many famous authors who have stayed at Raffles Hotel Singapore through the years. Helmed by the new Head Bartender, Nicholas Alexander, The Writers Bar will offer up artisanal 1915 Raffles Gin cocktails and a special selection of handcrafted cocktails alongside new curated gourmet collection bar snacks in the lobby bar.
The 1915 Raffles Gin cocktails are served with the exclusive Raffles 1915 Gin, created in collaboration with Sipsmith. This collaboration is rooted in both history and serendipity, with Sipsmith’s co-founder Sam Galsworthy being the great, great, great nephew of Sir Stamford Raffles.
A blend of botanicals found in Asia- jasmine flowers, fresh pomelo peel, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaf, nutmeg and cardamom – distilled alongside classic gin botanicals, the bespoke spirit can be enjoyed through various variations of the quintessential gin and tonic.
It is also used in the heritage and classic cocktail, Million Dollar Cocktail concocted by Ngiam Tong Boon who also created the Singapore Sling, using pineapples, sweet Vermouth, grenadine, gum arabic, lemon, egg white and Angostura bitters. The cocktail shot to fame when it was featured in The Letter, a short story by Somerset Maugham, one of the illustrious authors who have resided at the historic hotel.
The Writers Bar will also be introducing a series of new handcrafted cocktails inspired by “The Raffles Affair”, a murder mystery set in Raffles Hotel Singapore by the latest writer-in-residence, Vicki Virtue, a seasoned travel writer who has journeyed to over fifty countries and is an aspiring New Zealander author.
Drawing upon her visits to Raffles Hotel Singapore over the past few years, Vicki has penned her first novel, “The Raffles Affair”, which follows the adventures of heroine Victoria West, as she uncovers a murder mystery during her visit for a friend’s wedding at Raffles Hotel Singapore.
Among the signature cocktails created by Head Bartender Nicholas Alexander and his team of mixologists is Agent Provocateur, a blended cocktail made with Blandy’s 5 Year Bual Madeira, El Dorado 12, Concord Grenadine, lemon and mint.
Also on offer is the Femme Fatale, a cocktail personifying the glamorous bride from Vicki’s novel, Peyton Latchmore, made with Raffles exclusive Champagne Billecart Salmon Brut Reserve NV “An Iconic Return”, flowers, apple brandy and Cocchi Rosa.
Guests can also try False Alibi, a blend of Beluga Gold Line vodka, Shaw + Smith Sauvignon Blanc, passionfruit, gum arabic, white balsamic, lemon, egg white and soda based on Zara Avery-Smythe, the girlfriend of the groom’s half-brother in the novel.
Saboteur is a twist on the classic martini recipe that represents Isabelle Sauveterre, Peyton’s godmother.
There are also Sweet Tipples, which are dessert-styled cocktails based on the motifs in the novel, Sloth, Wrath and Pride.
Guests can enjoy these offering from 4:00 pm to 10:30 pm, Thursday to Sunday.
